The Servite Vision Fund

A Servite student's four years is an extraordinary experience, marked by personal, academic, and athletic challenges and achievements. This only holds true if the campus continues to operate with a focused, strategic vision.

The Vision for Servite High School is stronger than ever. Servite is redefining how the school does business, and investigating new and exciting partnerships with business and higher education. We are building even greater value in the relationships our supporters have with us.

Change without vision is just change. In the last twelve months, Servite High School has witnessed a remarkable number of changes - all with an eye toward the future. Any one of these changes would, itself, be considered significant. From hiring the first lay President in the school's forty-six year history to implementing a one-of-a-kind Freshman Formation Program and Formation Weekend... from the creation of a formal leadership certificate program in partnership with several leading universities to new faces leading Friar Football, Friar Lacrosse, and the fourteen new professionals teaching future graduating classes of Friar Men. Servite High School is constantly striving to provide a superior educational environment for our students. An environment that will not only challenge him academically, but also athletically and spiritually - to help create the faith-filled leader these young men are destined to become.

Planning and executing on the future for Servite demands countless resources. The new leadership of the school is already reaching out to experts in a number of critical areas to advise us on the difficult decisions already faced and those that still await. The forward looking growth and development of Servite also takes financial resources, as well. That is why giving to the Vision Fund is so crucial... Providing for the future of Servite High School, and future generations of Servite Men, is just that important.

The Servite Development Fund

The Servite Development Fund was started to help make tuition affordable for as many families as possible. The fund offsets the over $1 million annual cost to educate our students that is not covered by tuition. The gap between tuition and actual cost per student is $1,841. That amounts to a deficit of $7,363 over the four years your son attends Servite. Tax-deductible donations to the Development Fund provide additional income, which allows Servite's tradition of Excellence in Education to continue at an affordable tuition price.

While a pledge to the Development Fund is not mandatory, we do ask you to make your very best gift. For some, that might be $5,000 or more. For others it is less. We respect the different circumstances of each family. We ask for equal charity, not equal giving. A gift of $3,100 payable over three years (36 months) is the average gift. If you made such a gift, it would be less than $86 per month. All contributions to the Development Fund are tax-deductible. While tuition is not tax-deductible, your pledge to the Development Fund helps Servite as it helps your family.

You may pledge monthly, quarterly, or annually by check or credit card. Pledges are paid over three years. You will receive reminder statements based on the payment schedule you select. You may also pledge through your payroll deduction program at work; however, some, like the United Way, may charge you an administration fee. Many employers will also match your donation dollar for dollar when you give to the Servite Development Fund through the "Double Your Dollars" program. Contact your personnel office for further details. In-kind gifts are also greatly appreciated and can be applied to your Development Fund pledge. Please contact the Development Office for more information.

Giving Levels and Gift Recognition

Upon the completion of your Development Fund pledge, you will be recognized in one of the following categories:

Founder's Club

Gifts of $5,000 or more

• Choice of two season tickets to Servite athletics or two season subscriptions to Tri-School Theatre
• Gift commemorated in bronze on the Founder's Board in the lobby of the Servite High School Theatre
• Special Invitation to the President's Dinner
• Personalized Gift of Appreciation

Servite Stewards

Gifts starting from $3,500

• Gift commemorated in bronze on the Benefactor's Board in the lobby of the Servite Theatre
• Special invitation to the President's Dinner
• Personalized Gift of Appreciation

Servite Patrons

Gifts starting from $2,500

• Special invitation to the President's Dinner
• Personalized Gift of Appreciation

Servite Sponsors

All gifts up to $2,500

Each year, the school President hosts the President's Dinner in February. This very special event recognizes the generosity of this select group of Patrons, Stewards, and Founder's Club members who have completed their pledges.

If you have any questions regarding the Servite Development Fund or charitable donations to Servite High School, please contact our Advancement Office at (714) 774-7575, extension 1140.

Memorials and Tributes

Servite High School was founded forty-five years ago by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary. The school's mission is to provide a multifaceted and holistic education experience, to achieve excellence, to assist each student in the full development of his gifts and talents, to be a lived-faith community, and to make our decisions in the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You can help Servite to continue this mission with a meaningful donation – one that is meaningful to you and to Servite High School. By remembering your loved ones in your giving plans, you can honor them while supporting the goals of Servite High School. Memorials to those who are no longer with us are excellent ways to keep alive the memory of these special people. Contributions can be made in any amount and all donors will be remembered in the prayers of the Servite Friars.

A memorial does not have to be only for someone who is deceased. It can also be a tribute to someone who is dear to us or has influenced us in some particular way. Birthdays, graduations, marriages, anniversaries, recognition of a success, or even "just because" can also be recognized by a memorial gift.

Bequests

A "bequest" is simply a term used to describe a gift in your will or family trust specifying that a certain percentage of your estate, a particular asset, or a specific dollar amount is to be directed to a named beneficiary. When you make a bequest to charity, your estate is entitled to a charitable gift deduction for the value of the bequest.

A bequest can be for an unrestricted or designated gift in the form of cash, property or securities. It can also take the form of a "residual legacy" whereby a charity receives all or a portion of whatever remains of your estate after all debts, taxes, expenses and other bequests have been dispensed.

The advantages of a bequest include:

• You have the use of your assets during your lifetime.
• There are many options to ensure your bequest is personally meaningful.
• Your estate receives a charitable gift deduction.
• A bequest is a revocable gift and can be altered at any time should your circumstances change.

Charitable Trusts

A Charitable Trust is a trust set up for the benefit of a charity that complies with the regulations of the Charity Commissioners to enable it to be exempt from paying income tax. Gifts made to charitable trusts may provide you or your family with multiple advantages and at the same time give Servite a meaningful legacy. Whether the trust is a Charitable Lead Trust or a Charitable Remainder Trust, you may receive income tax benefits, estate tax advantages, capital gains relief, and income streams to suit your planning goals.

A Charitable Lead Trust is an arrangement in which property income or investment income is given to a charity while the grantor is living, but the principal passes to other designated parties upon the grantor's death.

A Charitable Remainder Trust is an arrangement in which property or money is donated to a charity, but the donor (called the grantor) continues to use the property and/or receive income from it while living. The beneficiaries receive the income and the charity receives the principal after a specified period of time. The grantor avoids any capital gains tax on the donated assets, and also gets an income tax deduction for the fair market value of the remainder interest that the trust earned. In addition, the asset is removed from the estate, reducing subsequent estate taxes. While the contribution is irrevocable, the grantor may have some control over the way the assets are invested, and may even switch from one charity to another (as long as it's still a qualified charitable organization). Charitable Remainder Trusts come in three types: Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (which pays a fixed dollar amount annually), a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (which pays a fixed percentage of the trust's value annually), and a Charitable Pooled Income Fund (which is set up by the charity, enabling many donors to contribute).

Life Insurance

Another way that you can help us to ensure the continuation of Servite's mission is to make Servite your beneficiary on a life insurance policy. Life insurance policies are an easy and convenient way to leave a gift that supports Servite High School. It's relatively simple to make a change to the beneficiary/or beneficiaries of your life insurance policy without changing the other assets in your estate. After your lifetime, the benefits from your policy pass to us free of federal estate tax. Your insurance company can provide you with a form that will allow you to make Servite a beneficiary of your insurance policy.

Paid-up Policies

Your paid-up life insurance policy can be put to use as an excellent gift as well. If the policy has a cash value, we would have the option of either holding the policy until the maturity date or surrendering the policy in order to receive the policy's current cash value. You are entitled to a current income tax deduction for this irrevocable gift.

Before making any decisions, Servite High School recommends that you consult your legal and financial advisors. If you do not have a financial advisor at the moment, Servite can help introduce you to one who is also an alumnus of the school. Please contact the Advancement Department for further information.

Chapel Chairs and Theatre Seat Plates

Patrons of Servite can make tributes to loved ones by the purchase of Chapel Chairs and Theatre Seats. Both facilities play a major role at Servite: The chapel is the spiritual center of the campus while the theatre is the core of Servite's performing arts programs.

A gift of $200 places a bronze plate on the Benefactor's Board in the lobby of the Servite theatre while a gift of $150 affixes your loved one's name to a brass plate on a beautiful oak chapel chair. Both gifts create a thoughtful and meaningful remembrance.

Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist students and their families with financial aid towards tuition. Different from the Servite Development Fund, this scholarship fund will give deserving students the financial opportunity to continue their education at Servite High School. All students, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, are welcome to apply for this scholarship fund.

Prayer Remembrances

The Servite Friars are pleased to remember your loved ones in their daily prayers. You may make any donation to Servite High School with the request that a prayer card be sent to those to whom you wish to offer comfort and support.

For additional information regarding any of the memorials and tributes discussed above, please contact the Servite Advancement Office at (714) 774-7575, extension 1140.